A group of parents has petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the decision of the Ministry of Education and the National Examination Council (NECO) to prevent their children from gaining admission into Federal Technical Colleges in Imo State.

The parents said the development has confused and frustrated them.

They complained that their children sat for the 2025/2026 Common Entrance Examination, hoping to gain admission into the Federal Science Technical College (FSTC) in Oguta, Imo State, their first choice.

The parents said they were shocked when the students were refused admission.

The Federal Government recently announced plans to convert Federal Science and Technical Colleges to full-fledged Federal Technical Colleges to overhaul technical education in the country, with the transition expected to begin this month.

According to the Federal Government, the decision is part of a broader strategy to reposition Nigeria’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training sector as a viable and attractive pathway for youth employment and economic development.

The spokesman for the parents, Mr. Ezenna Okoro, said the government’s decision to reform technical education was a welcome development, but refusing to admit new students at the last minute without providing alternative admission arrangements was unfair to parents.

“We are frustrated and confused by the way our wards were refused admission into the Federal Technical Colleges without alternative arrangements,” Okoro said.

The spokesman urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and reconsider the decision for the sake of the children.

“We demand that the admission process be reinstated for Junior Secondary School (JSS) 1 students and that alternative arrangements be made for affected students.

“Our children diligently prepared for and sat for the examination, with FSTC Oguta, Imo State, as their first choice. It’s unfair to deny them admission.”

A desk officer in the Department of Service Delivery (Servicom) at the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja explained that it was the Federal Government’s decision not to enroll new students in Federal Technical Colleges across the country.

“You know it’s a policy of the federal government, and it will begin with SS1 students,” he said. “We weren’t aware that the government wouldn’t accept new students into the Federal Technical Colleges. The regular admission process has been concluded, and each school has reached its admission capacity. So, I will advise affected parents to make alternative arrangements for their wards.”

The petition has sparked outrage among parents and students, who are demanding a reversal of the decision and a fair chance for all eligible students to gain admission into Federal Unity Schools. (The Nation)